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President Trump traveled Wednesday from Joint Base Andrews to North Dakota aboard a Boeing 747-8 jet donated by Qatar. The flight marked the aircraft's first use as Air Force One. The plane replaces a 747-200 in service since 1990 and will operate until 2028.
nbcnews.comPresident Trump traveled Wednesday from Joint Base Andrews to North Dakota aboard a Boeing 747-8 jet donated by the Qatari government. This marked the first presidential use of the aircraft in its role as Air Force One. The jet replaces a 747-200 that has been in service since 1990.
Officials said the older plane will remain until three new VC-25B aircraft are delivered in 2028. The plane had completed commissioning flights the previous week before entering presidential service. During the trip the president participated in a train ride and welcome ceremony tied to America's 250th anniversary and visited the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library.
White House officials posted social media messages marking the retirement of the older aircraft. Three 747-800s are being modified for the presidential fleet, including the Qatari-donated jet. Speaking before departure, President Trump said the United States could not build a comparable plane because it would not spend the necessary funds.
"This will be the first flight of what I think is maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built," he said. "I'm excited about the first flight. Nobody's ever seen anything like it," he added. "They just completed it, they made it appropriate for a president — that means the security and all the different bells and whistles they put on — very complex stuff.
The president stated the upgrades cost taxpayers very little compared with alternative approaches and called the jet a gift from a country that has treated the United States well. He noted the previous plane was more than 30 years old and said it would not look appropriate next to newer aircraft. "So we're really proud of this," he said.
nypost.comPresident Donald Trump said Wednesday he directed acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to declassify whatever he wants during his temporary tenure. Pulte was appointed last month and will serve until nominee Jay Clayton is confirmed.
Voters in Colorado's Democratic primaries backed several challengers over long-serving officeholders on Tuesday. Results showed wins for candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America in Denver and the 8th Congressional District.
cnbc.comThe House voted 189-235 to defeat a resolution that would have barred U.S. forces from engaging in hostilities in Lebanon. The measure, offered by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, drew bipartisan opposition and did not advance.